Sir Howard Hodgkin is a modern day Matisse, utilizing bright, bold colors and creating semi-abstract compositions.

Born in London, he was evacuated to the USA for a period as a child,and was trained at Camberwell 1949-50, and at Bath Academy of Art 1950-4. He taught at Charter House School, 1954-6, at the Bath Academy, 1956-66 and at Chelsea School or Art 1966-74.
Beginning with a remembered experience, Hodgkin works on his seductive and complex paintings for long periods, characteristically producing richly colored, sweeping compositions, which continue into the picture-frame itself. These paintings uniquely straddle representation and abstraction, at the same time as they demonstrate both an awareness of history and an understanding of art's potential today. He won the prestigious Turner Prize in 1985 and was knighted in 1992. In 2003 he was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as a Companion of Honor.